Magic trick apparatus



Aug. 16,1949. M. DAVIS, JR., EfAL 2,479,216

' MAGIC TRICK APPARATUS H Filed Aug. 10, 1948 8 6 J r/l J I 4 I 20 J INVENTORS MONT DAVIS,JR. y RUTH F. 0Av|s W- MW *Mwb- Patented Aug. 16, 1949 MAGIC :TRICK APPARATUS Mont Davis, J 11;, and Ruth F. Davis, Martha, Tenn. 7

Application August 10, 1948, Serial! No. 48,406

2 Claims. (01. Z7Z- -8) Th s ention relates to magic trick apparatus which we prefer to term a Pent-a-Pcrmv. for erforming ma c coin tricks and other tricks.

the main object of our invention is to provide magic trick apparatus for producing optical illusions order to mystify and amuse.

Another object is to provide such trick apparatus which makes it readily possible to deceive the eye inorder to perform seemingly impossible feats to the entertainment and astonishment of spectators. a

, A further object is to have such apparatus inelude a pair of substantially equal blocks with holes therethrough and also a long nail or red used therewith.

It is also an educational object of the invention to train the eye and the hand by means of the apparatus of the invention.

Other objects and advantages of this invention 'will appear in further detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a magic trick apparatus made according to the invention, the blocks of the apparatus being spaced apart to disclose detail; 7

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2.-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the normally inner rnutual facing sides of the two trick blocks forming the major portion or the present ma ic trick apparatus. so d s d to d sclos d tails and mutual relations.

In the views the same reference numerals india t e ame parts.

In devices and apparatus. used for sleight of hand, magic tricks and the like, it is always a question of using optical illusion in some manner or form to produce the desired appearances and effects. In some cases'it is possible to trainthe eye and to detect and follow the operation that actually occurs, whereby to interpret what apparently occurs. With these thoughts in mind and also to provide apparatus for entertainment, amusement and to educate the eye and the hand, we have succeeded in producing a magic trick apparatus with considerable capacity for mystification and amusement now to be particularly described.

Hence, in the practice of our invention, and referring again to the drawing, a pair of rectangular blocks A and .5 are made substantially equal in size and adapted in use to be superposed in coextensive relation as substantiall shown in Figure 2, for example. vPer-pendicularly through the upper blo k .4 are drilled three equidistantly spaced holes 6, I and 3 which are arranged in lineaiong he central axis of the :block, that is, equidistantly between the two side edges 9 and ill. The firsthoie .6 is disposed but a short, distance from the end H of block A, whereas the other end of the series at hole v8 is disposed at relatively longer distance from the other end 12 of the same block, and in fact, the distance is suflicient so that a further hole could be spaced within and I 2 substantially at the same distance therefrom as the hole 6 is from the end H, and this latter hole would then he the .same distance from the end hole 8 as hole t isi-rom hole '1 or hole 6 is from hole '1.

In similar fashion, block 5 is provided with three holes l3, l4 and I5, spaced in substantially the same manner as holes 6, 1 and 8 on block 4, the rlrst hole l3 being spaced a short distance from the end H of block '5,'while the other end hole I5 is disposed a relatively greater distance from the end l6. While the holes '6, 1 and 8 are uniform in diameter throughout their length so that they begin upon the upper surface |8 of block 4 at the same diameter as they terminate on the under side IS, the holes l3, l4 and IS on the upper side 20 of block 5 are counterbored to a short depth to have a relatively large diameter,

as shown at 2|, 22, 23, which is suflicient to receive a coin 24 in each case in the mentioned upper surface 20, so that the coin when deposited in the counterbored portions 2| 22, or 23, will beflu-Sh with the upper surface 20 'of the block. These counterbored portions or recesses 2|, 22 and 2a are only provided'in block 5 and solely in the upper surface 2|! already mentioned, while the bottom 25 is similar to either'side 8 or I9 of block 4, wherein theholes are of the same uniform diamet r throughout and not increased in diameter at he. suriace.

As best seen in Figure 2, the spacing of the holes 5, I and 8 in-block 4 and the holes I3, I4 and I5 in block 5 is such in each case that if the upper block 4 is turned over on either side. as for example shown in Figure 3, the holes will present the same appearancewhether the surface It; or 19 is shown, but if the lower block 5 is turned end to end, as in the mentioned Figure 3, it will be noted that the spacing of the holes is exactly the same in both blocks except for the circular recesses counterbored in the upper ends of the holes 13, M and 15. When the lower block is turned about to occupy the position shown in Figure l or 2, with hole l3 remote from the hole 6 in block 4, it will be note that the holes 1 and 8 of the latter block register with holes l and M, respectively, of block 5, and the hole 5 in block 4 terminates at the upper surface 20 of block 5, while hole l3 and its upper counterbored portion, or recess 2|, face the lower blank surface H! of upper block 4. In each case holes 6, I, 8, l3, l4 and I5 are of substantially the same diameter and this is sufficient for allowing a nail or other elongated object 26 to be thrust through the holes when they are in registry, while the head 21 facilitates manipulating the nail and withdrawing it from the blocks.

The arrangement is such that if a performer displays the blocks substantially as shown in Figure 3 and lays the coin 24 into recess 22, that is, the intermediate recess between 2| and 23, and then very demonstratively closes the blocks together by laying the surface IQ of block 4 over the upper surface 2|] of block 5, it is but a simple matter for him to turn block 4 end to end, or block 5 end over end, so that when the blocks approach each other they are substantially in the position with respect to each other as shown in Figure 1, and. are brought together as illustrated in section in Figure 2. The act of switching one of the blocks endwise is, of course, intended to be done so swiftly that it will not be noticed, and then the performer will offer to thrust the nail through the coin which has been deposited in the intermediate recess 22 by inserting the nail 26 in the intermediate aperture 1 of upper block 4 and thrusting it all the way through to pass through block 5 as well. The illusion is created that the central aperture 22 containing coin 24 is directly beneath the hole I, and thus it appears that the nail is being thrust through the coin as well as block 5 by the beholders imagining that block 5 remains as originally shown, that is, as it appears down at the bottom of Figure 3, with the holes 6, I and 8 aligned with holes l3, l4 and I5, which, however, is not the case, due to the switching of the lower block. If the upper block ha been switched instead, the effect is, of course, the same on the spectators, namely, that the middle hole I is thought to be directly over recess 22 containing the coin 24.

When the blocks are again taken apart with the nail 2B removed, the previously-switched block is again returned to its original position, so that the two blocks again present the appearance relative to each other as shown in Figure 3, with the exception that the coin 24 perhaps remains in recess 22 to further mystify the beholders inasmuch as it is, of course, free from any aperture or any mark indicating that the nail has gone through. The entire procedure is, of course, a method of deceiving the eye by such swift motion of the hands that the switching of one of the blocks is not noted. The blocks are, of course, preferably made of wood or plastic or any other suitable material, and the holes 6, I, 8, l3, I4 and l5, as well as the counterbored recesses 2|, 22 and 23 very cleanly cut so that the finish and the appearance will be entirely satisfactory for demonstration purposes.

Manifestly, variations in size and numbers of holes and other modifications may be resorted to, and similar changes may be introduced within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described our invention, we claim:

1. A magic trick apparatus including a pair of rectangular and substantially similar blocks having a row of holes extending transversely through both blocks from the upper surfaces to the lower surfaces thereof, the holes in each block being disposed in an equidistantly-spaced series midway between the side edges of the block and the first hole at one end of the series being spaced a shorter distance from the respectively adjacent end of the block and the last hole at the other end of the series spaced from the other end of the same block, the arrangement being such that in one superposed coextensive position of the blocks all the holes in one block register with all the holes in the other block, but in an opposite superposed coextensive position of the blocks wherein one block is reversed end to end one end hole in each block is disposed beyond the series in the other block while the remaining holes in both blocks register with each other, and one block upon the upper surface thereof having a shallow counterbored recess of sufficiently large diameter to receive a coin concentric with each of the holes therein.

2. A magic trick apparatus including a pair of rectangular and substantially similar blocks havin a row of holes extending transversely through both blocks from the upper surfaces to the lower surfaces thereof, the holes in each block being disposed in an equidistantly-spaced series midway between the side edges of the block and the first hole at one end of the series being spaced a shorter distance from the respectively adjacent end of the block and the last hole at the other .end of the series spaced from the other end of the same block, the arrangement being such that in one superposed coextensive position of the blocks all the holes in one block register with all the holes in the other block, but in an opposite superposed coextensive position of the blocks wherein one block is reversed end to end one hole in each block is disposed beyondthe series in the other block While the remaining holes in both blocks register with each other, and one block upon the upper surface thereof having a shallow counterbored recess of sufficiently large diameter to receive a coin concentric with each of the holes therein, the holes in both blocks being of substantially the same cross-section and of sufficient caliber to allow a nail or rod to be thrust therethrough to cooperate with said blocks.

' MONT DAVIS, JR. RUTH F. DAVIS.

Noreferences cited. 

